Use of the word “Allah”: Bersatu claims govt violated the sultans' orders
NOR SYAMIRA LIANA NOR ASHAHA
SHAH ALAM - Bersatu claims that the government has violated the order of the Sultan of Johor and the Sultan of Selangor as Heads of Islamic Religion in their respective states, by making an appeal to re-use the word Allah.
Its information head, Datuk Razali Idris, said the move by the Home Affairs Ministry (KDN) to withdraw the appeal indirectly proves that the government has interfered in the processes of the nation's judicial system.
" KDN also rejected the decision of the Fatwa Committee of the National Council for Islamic Religious Affairs (MKI Muzakarah Committee) in 2008.
"The result of the discussion was that it was decided that the word Allah is a sacred word specific to Islam and Muslims, the word cannot be used or equated with other beliefs (religions)," he said on Wednesday.
On May 15, Sinar had reported that the Malaysian Government and KDN withdrew their appeal against the High Court's decision, which ruled that Christians can use the words Allah, Baitullah, Kaabah, and prayer in the publication of Christian religious material for learning purposes.
Meanwhile, Razali also criticised the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim,'s statement in a report entitled 'The use of the word Allah by Christians in Sarawak is allowed'.
He explained that the Tambun MP's statement was rather superficial because Sarawak is a part of Malaysia where Islam is the federal religion and the state's Islamic Religious Council exists under the auspices of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
"I believe that KDN's decision and the Prime Minister's statement are a confused "desperate move' to avoid Sarawak and Sabah withdrawing support from the government so that they are willing to 'trash' their governance by turning their backs on the Malay Kings (religious leaders)," he said.
Razali said he was of the opinion that the Home Affairs Minister, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, had no right to make a decision to withdraw the appeal without referring to the Rulers, the State Islamic Religious Council, and Muzakarah Malaysia.
Thus, Razali urged the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk Dr Mohd Na'im Mokhtar, to express a clear and firm stance to defend all appeal efforts at the command of the Malay Rulers to ensure the issue of the words Allah, Baitullah, Kaabah, and prayers maintain their exclusivity.
